============================================================================ __ _________ __ \ \ / /_ _\ \ / / FREE SPEECH WINS IN COURT! \ \ / / | | \ \ /\ / / THE COURT DISSES THE CDA 3-0 \ V / | | \ V V / \_/ |_| \_/\_/ NETIZENS CELEBRATE WITH FIREWORKS Redistribute this intact until June 15, 1996 URL:http://www.vtw.org/speech/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table of Contents News How can I help spread the word? Rally information for NYC and Pittsburgh Press information ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEWS WE WIN! After 18 months of work, netizens finally got the justice they so richly deserve. The three-judge panel in Philadelphia issued a ruling today saying that they had examined the Communications Decency Act, learned about the Internet as a medium, and concluded that the law is an inappropriate method of regulating cyberspace. This decision establishes an overwhelmingly positive precedent for the final decision by the Supreme Court, expected early next year. The famed "Question Mark" icon that had started popping up all over the WWW changed simultaneously at 9:09am from a question mark to fireworks, as thousands of Netizens began the mad rush to obtain a copy of the court decision celebrating their victory. You can read a copy of the decision or obtain a copy of the icon yourself at http://www.vtw.org/speech/ Senator Feingold (D-WI) said today, "This is welcome news for all of us who not only support free speech, but who also want to see this new dynamic communications technology develop safe from the threat of censorship." Feingold continued, "This issue is larger than so-called 'adult' expression or communications. It is about whether the government will decide what we see, hear, and write." Join millions of other netizens as they read the decision, rally, celebrate, and thank the court for taking the time to do what some members in Congress and the President would not do: apply the First Amendment. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOW CAN I HELP SPREAD THE WORD It's crucial that people turn out for the rallies, as well as spread the word about the decision. You can help in a number of ways outlined below. 1. ATTEND THE NYC/PITTSBURGH RALLIES If you are anywhere close to the locations of the Pittsburgh or New York City rallies, please attend and brings lots of friends! If you are an Internet provider in New York, please place the following message in your message of the day: THE COURT ISSUED A RULING TODAY IN THE INTERNET FREE SPEECH CASE ON THE COMMUNICATIONS DECENCY ACT. A RALLY IS BEING HELD IN NYC AT OUTERNET (BWAY.NET) @ 626 BROADWAY AT 6:30PM. FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE http://www.vtw.org/speech/ OR CALL OUTERNET AT 212-982-9800. If you are an Internet provider in the Pittsburgh area, please place the following message in your message of the day: THE COURT ISSUED A RULING TODAY IN THE INTERNET FREE SPEECH CASE ON THE COMMUNICATIONS DECENCY ACT. A RALLY IS BEING HELD ON THE STEPS OF THE OAKLAND BRANCH OF THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY AT 4PM. FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE http://www.envirolink.org/ OR CALL 412-683-6400. 2. LINK TO THE TEXT OF THE COURT'S DECISION The text of the decision will be posted at http://www.vtw.org/speech#decision Link to it from your page and help spread the word about th case that will decide so much of the future of free speech online. THE COURT ISSUED A RULING TODAY IN THE INTERNET FREE SPEECH CASE ON THE COMMUNICATIONS DECENCY ACT. WHILE NETIZENS RALLY IN NEW YORK AND PITTSBURGH, YOU CAN READ THE DECISION ONLINE AT http://www.vtw.org/speech/index.html#decision ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RALLY INFORMATION FOR NYC AND PITTSBURGH NEW YORK RALLY WHERE: Outernet, Inc. (bway.net) @ 626 Broadway, Suite 3-A (third floor) (Very close to the Broadway/Lafayette stop on the F train) WHO: You and your friends! Show up, bring friends, and come find out how net free speech fared in court. Here is the current speaker list (subject to time, travel, and availability) U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) Barry Steinhardt, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Danny Weitzner, Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) David Sobel, Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) Molly Ker, Echo Communications (echonyc.com) Jonathan D. Wallace, author, "Sex, Laws, and Cyberspace" Alexis Rosen, Public Access Networks (panix.com) Ian Stevelman, Outernet (bway.net) WHEN: 6:30pm, Wed June 12th, 1996. Bring yourself, lots of friends, and whistles, drums, anything to make a lot of noise with. MORE INFO:Check http://www.vtw.org/speech or http://www.bway.net/ Press inquiries should go to Shabbir @ 917 978 8430. Outernet's phone number is 212-982-9800. PITTSBURGH RALLY WHERE: Steps of the Oakland branch of the Carnegie Library WHO: You and your friends! Show up, bring friends, and come find out how net free speech fared in court. WHEN: 4pm, Wed June 12th, 1996. Bring yourself, lots of friends, and whistles, drums, anything to make a lot of noise with. MORE INFO:Check http://www.envirolink.org/. Press inquiries should go to 412-683-6400. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRESS INFORMATION Press inquiries about the New York rally should be directed to Shabbir J. Safdar (VTW) at 718-596-2851. To find out about outlets and electricity for the rally, or to setup cameras ahead of time, contact Ian @ Outernet at 212-982-9800. ============================================================================